MINUTES OF MEETING
BOARD OF GEORGIA VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SERVICES
WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013
1:00pm – 3:00pm
GEORGIA VOCATIONAL REHABILITATON AGENCY (GVRS)
DOUBLE TREE HOTEL
BEP / FT. BENNING
5351 SIDNEY BLVD.
COLUMBUS, GA 31904
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:
Sandy Adams
Jimmy DeFoor
Marsha Farrow
Louise Hill
Greg Kirk
Fay Loggins
Amy O’Dell
Robert Green
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT:
Don Parks
GA Voc Rehab Services Board Minutes
Page 1
May 8, 2013
Mr. Jimmy DeFoor, Chairman, welcomed everyone to the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Services (GVRS) May Board meeting. He expressed his appreciation to Rajaunnda (“Raj”) Gandy for the Ft. Benning Tour and for being in attendance at the GVRS Board meeting today and introduced Raj to summarize the BEP Program.
Raj Gandy recognized and introduced Mr. Thomas Livingston, a BEP Vendor.
Mr. DeFoor thanked Mr. Livingston for his comments and called the GVRS Board meeting to order at approximately 1:05 pm with the roll call.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mr. DeFoor moved to consider April meeting minutes from the last board meeting be approved and asked if there were any additions or corrections to those minutes.
Mr. DeFoor asked for a motion for meeting minutes to be approved from the last board meeting. Motion from Sandy Adams, motioned seconded by Greg Kirk that the minutes of the April 8, 2013 meeting be approved. The motion passed unanimously by the Board.
NEW BUSINESS
Mr. DeFoor asked if the Board would give nominations for the GVRS Board to Greg Schmieg or if anyone on the Board would ask to be not nominated to be an officer on the Board. Bob Green requested not to be nominated.
Sandy Adams made a motion to leave the Board as is, and to leave the Officers as is. Louise Hill second the motion. The motion passed unanimously by the Board.
GA Voc Rehab Services Board Minutes
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May 8, 2013
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Executive Director, Greg Schmieg, presented the Director’s report with the following:
1. Fiscal Year Budget presented by Jimmy Wilson, GVRA, CFO
2. Vocational Rehabilitation Program
§ VR Program funding update
§ Cece Hockett presented “New Order of Selection”
§ Bobby Dodd, Easter Seals, Tommy Nobis - have all advised they are willing to work with GVRA during budget constraints
§ VR Program Audit under way – findings expected by August
§ Waiting List Update – plan to lower wait list is underway
§ Program has gone from a 10MM deficit to a 2MM deficit
3. Business Enterprise Program (BEP)
§ Projected to come in on budget
§ 133 sites statewide where we are looking at putting in checks and balances and compliance initiatives in vendor selection
4. Roosevelt Warm Springs
§ RSWI underwent staff reduction
§ Out-patient service was not profitable
§ GVRA HR is diligently working to help displaced employees seek employment opportunities
§ Looking at a potential lease opportunity for RSWI Golf Course
5. Georgia Industries for the Blind (GIB)
§ GIB reserve funds update Vocational training for VR clients discussions underway
ISO Audit underway
6. Disability Adjudication Services (DAS)
§ Change in Leadership Update – Awilda Danko has been named Interim Director
§ Storm Damage Update
7. GVRA New Messages and Strategic Branding
§ Meetings have begun for new message team to define GVRA’s clear message
§ Focus of new vision and message is to find the right way to educate those in charge or resources and ensure all providers are aware of the new
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May 8, 2013
8. New GVRA Initiatives / Opportunities for Match
§ Forever Families / Arrendale Prison Initiative
§ TEAM 26 Project continues to provide opportunities to veterans Campus Benefit Fund at Warm Springs to allow VR Clients to stay at Warms Springs for this fiscal year
§ Veteran’s 1st Choice – working with Bobby Dodd on this project
§ Goodwill of North GA – “Pay for Success” working with United Way
§ PROMISE Grant – working on application process
9. New GVRA Initiatives / Opportunities for Match
§ Forever Families / Arrendale Prison Initiative
§ TEAM 26 Project continues to provide opportunities to veterans Campus Benefit Fund at Warm Springs to allow VR Clients to stay at Warms Springs for this fiscal year
§ Veteran’s 1st Choice – working with Bobby Dodd on this project
§ Goodwill of North GA – “Pay for Success” working with United Way
§ PROMISE Grant – working on application process
10. Keith Horton - Operations Update
§ DOL MOU IT Cost Update
§ Currently negotiating IT cost with DOL
§ Looking at moving the Check Writing, Case Management, and RFP systems
§ Kevin Harris Communications Update
§
11. Action Items – Two Resolutions for Consideration for Board Approval – Greg Schmieg
§ 1st resolution introduced for approval by the Board – GA DOT has requested 607 sq. feet of land to be conveyed to them for a drive easement to access their property for GA DOT work – they required a Board signed resolution
§ 2nd Resolution introduced for approval by the Board – request the Board approve GFSIC taking on GVRA projects up to the amount of $760,000 for capital improvements at Warm Springs
Mr. DeFoor asked for a motion for to vote on the 2nd motion. The motion passed unanimously by the Board.
Mr. DeFoor asked for a motion for to vote on the 1st motion. A motion from Sandy Adams, a second motion from Jimmy DeFoor. The motion passed unanimously by the Board.
GA Voc Rehab Services Board Minutes
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May 8, 2013
OLD BUSINESS
No old business presented.
NEW BUSINESS
No new business presented.
PUBLIC COMMENT
No request for Public Comments.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business for discussion, the Board meeting was adjourned at approximately 3:30pm
THE NEXT MEETING
The next Board meeting will be on Wednesday, June 12, 2013 in at VR Office, 150 Evelyn C. Neely Drive, Athens, GA 30601.
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Marsha Farrow, Secretary
APPROVED:
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Jimmy DeFoor, Chair